Public urged to use caution on area roadways

Though major thoroughfares across the region were mostly clear by mid-morning Monday, officials were still urging motorists to use caution and telling people to stay home if possible.

Over the course of Sunday, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office assisted 27 motorists who were stranded. They also worked two crashes, one involving a snow plow that was side-swiped by a car on Highway 126.

In the northern end of the county on Sunday night, the Tennessee Highway Patrol was busy directing traffic off Interstate 81. That was due to crashes in Virginia bringing northbound lanes to a standstill.

In addition, the THP worked 17 wrecks in Northeast Tennessee, eight of which involved injuries. There were also 45 calls for motorist assistance and eight abandoned vehicles.

In Virginia, State Police were still urging the public to avoid travel on Monday morning.

“Conditions remain slick and challenging, and troopers continue to respond to vehicles getting stuck on and off the highways,” stated a press release.

As of 7:15 a.m., troopers were responding to 30 calls about disabled vehicles and working 17 crashes. Statewide on Sunday, there were more than 1,000 separate wrecks.

None of those proved fatal, but two Troopers in Pulaski County were hit by out-of-control vehicles, as was a third in Henrico County. They all received minor injuries.

The region remains under a winter weather advisory until noon.The National Weather Service says skies will turn partly sunny today with a high near 41 degrees. Lows tonight will be around 18 degrees. No additional precipitation is in the forecast until Thursday night, when there is a slight chance of showers.

At Tri-Cities Airport, most of today's flights are showing on time.

“While the airport terminal and runways remained open for business as usual, some flights were cancelled or delayed on Sunday and Monday morning,” said airport spokeswoman Kristi Haulsee in an email. “The airport crew worked tirelessly during this snow event continually clearing the runway and keeping the main roadway plowed which kept the airport open. However, we do ask passengers to be careful as snow does remain in the parking lots around vehicles.”